When You Need It: The Best Emergency Radios for 2021

Why Trust Us

I grew up on the hurricane-laden gulf coast. My Mimi (grandma) would tell stories of the night she watched her house fall apart over her head during Hurricane Camille, and my mother would round that story out with stories of hurricanes too.

It wasn't too long before I was in the thick of it too. Tropical Storm Allison at age 7, Rita at 11, Ike at 14, Harvey at 23, and those are just the big ones. Every year, severe storms, tropical storms, and minor hurricanes (in the lucky years you might have an ice storm) descended upon the gulf coast, and we often learned to continue with life through the storm, evacuate, or hunker down.

When you choose to hunker down, you better have an emergency kit, and that always includes a hand crank emergency radio. 

Who This is For

Emergency Radios and this guide are not just for doomsday preppers. Emergency Radios are a valuable tool for anyone who lives in disaster-prone areas.

If there's any chance your area could see ice storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, or severe weather of any kind, you should have an emergency radio. These tools are one of those items you hope you won't need but will be thankful you have when the time comes. 

How We Picked

I picked the product selection for this guide through my own experience living on the hurricane-prone gulf coast and by reading product reviews for dozens of products.

With my combined experience of living through dozens of major storms and the wealth of information available at the click of a button, curating the best emergency radios was done in a jiffy. 

How We Tested

Initial testing for these radios involved some first impressions and time spent learning the products. One of the first things I noticed is that certain winding noises from cranks annoy dogs more than others. More on that later (see the FAQs below).

Additional testing involved testing particular features on each device, such as the radio, flashlights, and more.

Features to Look for in Emergency Radios

Channels and Alerts - Many radios can access both AM and FM channels as well as NOAA channels. While NOAA channels and the ability to receive critical weather alerts are crucial elements of an emergency radio, access to AM/FM radios is an excellent bonus for entertainment on camping trips or other scenarios when the radio is not accessible by other means. I mean, enjoying the great outdoors isn’t always about disconnecting from technology, right? 

Ability To Receive Signals From NOAA - It is vital that your emergency radio be able to receive signals and alerts from NOAA. These alerts are essential in an emergency.

NOAA also gives regular weather reports for all 50 states. Should you be out of power, these signals can inform you of what's happening around you.

Additionally, NOAA transmits critical safety alerts during weather and disaster emergencies like hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes that can help you make decisions about your safety before, during, and after the event. 

Charging Methods - When considering charging methods for your emergency radio, you should consider what may or may not be available to you in a disaster scenario in your area. The more charging methods, the better.

In many disaster scenarios, the power may be out, and charging exclusively via a cord is impractical. Solar power is a great option, but storm clouds, smoke, or ash could cloud the available sunlight. Hand cranking is one of the best charging options because it is not reliant on anything other than movement. 

Battery Life - Battery life can refer to many things when talking about emergency radios. Battery life could be the length of time the device operated while running on batteries or the amount of time the device functions after charging via solar or hand cranking.

The most sustainable way to keep a radio functioning is with hand cranking or solar power. Long battery life is ideal, but with hand cranking and solar power usually readily available, it is less of a crucial element of your emergency radio. 

Extra Features - Extra features can include sirens, flashlights, phone charging, and more. These features can come in handy by helping signal help those who may otherwise struggle to see you.

Flashlights on your radio eliminate the need for additional devices.

Phone charging can be critical for keeping your phone working without power. 

Durability and Waterproofness - It should go without saying that if your radio is not durable, it's not made for emergencies. Extreme weather like hurricanes and tornadoes will destroy homes and belongings and put those caught in their midst through the wringer.

If your radio is not waterproof or durable, it might as well be dust. 

Size and Weight - If you have an emergency preparedness kit, which is an excellent idea whether you live in a disaster-prone area or not, an ideal scenario is that your emergency radio fits into your kit. If the radio is too large or bulky, it can't move with you easily.

If your radio is not portable and needs to move locations during an emergency, your emergency radio is no longer helpful. A portable radio that is easy to carry one-handed by anyone in your family is ideal. 

Price - Budgets vary, so do the costs of emergency radios. Many emergency radios are under $100. An emergency radio is not a purchase you want to skimp on because it could potentially be lifesaving, but it should not break the bank either. 

Ability to Annoy Dogs - Ever find a noise that your dog absolutely despises? The one that takes them from perfectly behaved Fido to ravenous, fiendish Kujo? Well, it turns out winding and cranking noises are a common agitator for dogs, but some are worse than others.

Specific radios with hand cranks proved to bug my roommate's dog and would rise him out of a dead sleep and send him into a barking spree worse than his daily barks at the mailperson. Other cranks appeared not to bug him at all. Is there a way to tell which one will anger your dog before you buy? Probably not, but you should know it's a possibility.

Types of Emergency Radios

Weather alert radios - Some radios only have weather alerts through NOAA, although these are becoming less and less common. If purchasing a radio with weather alerts only, look for a radio with SAME, ensuring your radio only gets your local weather alerts and national alerts. 

AM/FM radios - Most emergency radios on the market offer AM/FM radio stations and the NOAA weather station for critical alerts. AM/FM radio access allows better access to your local radio stations and warnings. Additionally, if you need to hunker down for a few days or more, those additional stations could provide excellent entertainment.

Q: Where can I buy an emergency radio?

A: You can purchase emergency radios via the links we've attached here. Alternatively, if you feel more inclined to buy in person, many home improvement and megastores often carry at least one model of emergency radios.

Your best bet is to buy online, so you have a chance to research each one thoroughly. 

Q: When will I need an emergency radio?

A: In events like a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or power outage, a portable emergency radio can be a lifesaving device. With climate change on the rise and weather-related disasters becoming a more frequent occurrence in many areas, you will likely need an emergency radio at some point. Having this device and not needing it is much better than needing it and not having it. 

Q: Why can't I use my smartphone?

A: In short, because your smartphone will die. While we know it is hard to separate yourself from your smartphone, it may not actually work depending on the emergency. Your phone is less durable and waterproof than a radio and has shorter battery life.

Q: What does an emergency radio do?

A: Emergency radios have a variety of features that can serve you during a disaster scenario. Emergency radios can receive transmissions and alerts from NOAA to keep you informed and often double as phone chargers, flashlights, and more. 

Q: How do you use an emergency radio?

A: Before using your radio, you should ensure it has a full charge. Once your radio is charged, you can use the controls on the device to access the NOAA weather channels or your local radio station. Additionally, many radios can charge your phone via a USB cord and can act as a flashlight. 

Q: How long does a crank radio last?

A: When fully charged, a crank radio will generally provide 10-15 hours of radio time. If you are using other features, that time frame will be shorter. The good news is that all you have to do to get the radio up and running again is crank it.

When it comes to the lifespan of a crank radio, there's no firm answer but generally 500 to 1000 charges, so unless you have tornadoes ravaging your home weekly, we're willing to bet you have a few years out of your device if not decades. 

Q: What are the emergency radio channels?

A: Emergency radio channels usually vary by your location. It is wise to find your local and state channels and write them on a note in your emergency preparedness kit.

Additionally, the national weather service (NOAA) has its own weather station. The NOAA station will deliver non-weather emergency updates as well.